Scotsdale’s horse therapy farm helped 3 horses after La Fires – ktar.com

Phoenix – Phantom, Phoenix and Presley had more than their fair share of close deaths. Once scheduled for slaughter, the three horses were rescued by a non -profit murder pen in California called All Seaded in Poliva. They survived, but their danger was far from being done.

They spent about a year by recovering before devastating wild fires pierced through Los Angeles, driving families and animals from their homes.

Hunkapi volunteers, a horse therapy farm in Scotsdale, felt forced to help animals displaced by the fires. While many animal lovers successfully saved these horses and brought them to the Centers for Horse Centers in Los Angeles and Pierce, animals still need care, including cleaning and eating.

“We loaded as much as we thought our tires could handle the trip,” Hunkapi Terra Shaad’s CEO told the programs Hunkapi Ktar News 92.3 FM Friday. “It was about 7,000 pounds of food.”

However, this was not all. They also brought salt blocks that can weigh 50 pounds each on the trailers they traveled.

“We had many – 21 salt blocks or so. So we’re talking about 10,000 pounds of food and supplies, “Shaad said.

Scotsdale’s horse therapy Farm found 3 horses after LA fires

She and about seven volunteers went all the way to the Horse Pierce Center in LA, cleaning stalls and taking care of horses in need.

According to Laura Hurd, it was a long hike, one of the volunteers who made the long trip to LA.

“Driving at LA on I-10, we passed San Bernardino, and then the whole sky was just blurred by smoke,” Hurd told Ktar newsS “It was just smoke all the way to the ground, and you could actually smell it in our trucks.”

After helping the center, the team dropped their food entirely in the barn, which then spread it to families and horse centers that take care of horses displaced by La Fires.

The horses saved by Kill Pen find a new life as therapeutic animals

It was there that they met with Phoenix, Presley and Phantom, which were the ideal size of being therapeutic horses. They also had the perfect personalities, Hurd said.

“We have some horses that need to be retired and they fit the same size,” she said. “And just their calm behavior. We walked next to them in their stalls and they just stood there. “

Instead of being afraid, Phoenix, Presley and Phantom made contact with the eyes with the volunteers, showing no signs of fear, despite their traumatic past.

“We reached our hands to pet them and we just offer them our love and they just took it. They took all this, ”Hurd said. “It’s like” Oh, these guys, they can be the ones. “

How does the Scottsdale Equestrian Farm work

Although the three horses were not displaced by the fire, the Hunkapi programs brought them to their new home to Scottsdale to make room for those who were. The farm is a 10-definition property near Cactus Road and 96th Street named Lacota, which means “we’re all connected”.

“We are a facility and program that uses horses in a therapeutic setting to help treat people from their trauma,” Shaad said. “For us our horses are not a horse, they are our colleagues.”

The farm offers therapeutic riding lessons, horse psychotherapy and garden therapy for adults and children with a number of diagnoses, including autistic spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, addiction disorder and post -traumatic stress disorder.

The farm serves about 300 customers. In addition to providing horse therapy, Scottsdale Location also hosts various public events, private events and summer camps.

It costs thousands of dollars for eating, cleaning after and taking medical care for horses. Those who want to support Hunkapi programs can donate online.